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As I reflect on my passion for making art, I am reminded of my first experience of making something with my hands. I have a vivid memory of being a four year old, when I was often left in the care of my maternal grandfather. He was in the process of building our family’s house, which eventually became the dwelling where I grew up and which still stands today.
At such a young age, I was not
capable of helping him lay the seals on the blocks for the foundation or raise
the walls for the ceiling and roof to rest on. However, my grandfather made it
his personal mission to have me involved in helping with this project.
Frequently, he would send me to fetch his handsaw, leveler, carpenter’s square
or folding tape measure. This early introduction to simple tools My grandfather took special pride in his dual role of house building and caregiver for me. Because he gave me the special task of keeping up with his tools, I felt a sense of ownership in the construction of our house. At a time when most children my age were in kindergarten or with a baby-sitter, I was getting a head start on another type of education. Another influence on me during this era was provided by my father and uncle, who frequently made utilitarian objects for the house. Being at their sides or otherwise ‘underfoot’, I had the unique experience of seeing these objects created from scratch. One of the objects I recall, in particular, was a handmade washboard for washing clothes. I am the proud owner of this washboard, and I have it prominently displayed in my home. Remembering these objects and reflecting on my ancestral lineage, I can see a direct correlation with what I am exploring today. My motivation for making sculpture stems from the creative process, which allows me to internalize my thoughts while simultaneously transforming my ideas into tangible objects. The physical transformation of a previously undisclosed idea into three-dimensional reality is emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Such an idea can be physically manifested in the form of sculpture and thereby be shared with humanity as testimony of one’s cultural identity. The creative process has historically been key in determining one’s cultural contributions. It enables one to be individually expressive. In fact, one’s individuality is a vital component of the creative process. This freedom and flexibility allows me to express my views intuitively through my sculpture.
Curtis Patterson |
Send mail to
cpsculptor@bellsouth.net
with questions or comments
about this web site and/or Curtis Patterson Sculptural Works.
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